Construction Continues on Crucial Water Reservoir

Crews are continuing to build a new reservoir to replace the ancient structure that provides Glendora with the majority of its potable water.

The current reservoir, which holds 185,000 gallons and provides the city with 60 percent of its potable water, is 93 years old and is replete with wear and tear. When construction on the new facility is complete, it will hold 1 million gallons of water in a pre-stressed concrete reservoir, officials said.

The total cost of the new San Gabriel Plant is $10.2 million, officials said, and is being paid for out of the public works' water capital fund, which is funded by the rate payers.

"The roof has been replaced a couple of times. Back in 1920, they didn't cover the reservoirs, so the roof was added to it much later and it continued to deteriorate and it's been replaced at least twice," said Noel Zemla, principal civil engineer for Glendora Public Works.

The facility under construction will also house a hypochlorite generation facility. Hypochlorite is used as a method of disinfecting water.

Construction was started in June of 2012 on the new facility. In addition to the reservoir, a new pump station and warehouse will also be constructed. The warehouse is roughly 90 percent completed, the pump station is about half complete, Zemla said.

The reservoir will not be started until September of this year, officials said.

The contractor is about one month behind schedule. Completion of the project is scheduled for January 2014.